Help me solve this grammar riddle please!

Same FOUR letters that make FIVE different words. Can anyone help fill in the blanks????
"A ____old woman, on ____bent, picked up her ____and away she went. _
_____, my son, she was heard to say, what shall we do to_____today?"

Here is one more that has FOUR letters but makes SIX words.
As he walks along the trail, _____the cat spies a snail. He will _____and ponder it, then he _____to follow it. When the snail_____a rise, the cat finds ____full of spice, and heads for the ______with his prize!